These days, To24 doesn't necessarily mean much. Whenever you see an image get there that leaves you scratching your head, it is probably more due to an aggressive Facebook campaign than anything else. Now that RP took away the ability to see where views are coming from, it's pretty much "Katie bar the door."

These days, To24 doesn't necessarily mean much. Whenever you see an image get there that leaves you scratching your head, it is probably more due to an aggressive Facebook campaign than anything else. Now that RP took away the ability to see where views are coming from, it's pretty much "Katie bar the door."

Kevin, I agree 100%. It seems that a whole crop of KB mini-me's are campaigning the crap out of stuff that is not necessarily better than a lot of concurrent submissions, and dominating many TO24 slots. I used to a have a feel for which of my submissions would do well, getting to the top four if not TO24. Now reaching that level only occurs if the campaigners all take the day off. I enjoy the idea of a daily photo contest, but not if abusers are gaming the system. Flickr is becoming much more fun, and I'm finding many non-RP or ex-RP folks who I'm following. I'm seriously thinking about shifting there entirely from "the best-campaigned railroad photos on the net".

Kevin, I agree 100%. It seems that a whole crop of KB mini-me's are campaigning the crap out of stuff that is not necessarily better than a lot of concurrent submissions, and dominating many TO24 slots. I used to a have a feel for which of my submissions would do well, getting to the top four if not TO24. Now reaching that level only occurs if the campaigners all take the day off. I enjoy the idea of a daily photo contest, but not if abusers are gaming the system. Flickr is becoming much more fun, and I'm finding many non-RP or ex-RP folks who I'm following. I'm seriously thinking about shifting there entirely from "the best-campaigned railroad photos on the net".

Oh, I don't know. 55 of my 120 accepted shots have made Top 2 or Top 4, and that's with zero campaigning by me. I've been a harsh critic of the site since before I even posted anything, but the views are still better here for now, so I'll stick around. I simply mentally made this the secondary, get more views place.

Oh, I don't know. 55 of my 120 accepted shots have made Top 2 or Top 4, and that's with zero campaigning by me. I've been a harsh critic of the site since before I even posted anything, but the views are still better here for now, so I'll stick around. I simply mentally made this the secondary, get more views place.

Maybe so, but you have only had ten of those shots accepted in the past two years. I think that the landscape has changed quite a bit in that time, and I would be surprised if you have the same percentage on your next 120 photos, and not due to any quality decline in you submissions. A lot of good photographers have slowed their roll or totally disappeared from RP over that timeframe, but they post on Flickr frequently.

I don't want to sound anti-RP, as I've learned a lot here. That said, my most recent learning is that, with a good referral platform, a lot of photos that should be part of the pack are abnormally rising to the top.

That said, making RP a secondary platform is the next step, as opposed to total withdrawal.

I think that the landscape has changed quite a bit in that time, and I would be surprised if you have the same percentage on your next 120 photos...

My recent week's burst of activity: 5 submitted, 4 accepted, 3 Top Shots notices, 5875 views. Just selections from the Logan file that happened to be on top. I'm annoyed they wouldn't take the NYO&W station, but other than that I'm pleased.

I'd note he had a "better" version the day before, basically the same composition except without the turbines but otherwise a nicer image.

As far as TO-24 there are obviously a lot of factors but you can't compare something out of a logan box to something taken yesterday. Looking at the Landry day before photo which is nice but a CN train with a little fog it would be hard to say that is 3500 views image??

I'd note he had a "better" version the day before, basically the same composition except without the turbines but otherwise a nicer image.

As far as TO-24 there are obviously a lot of factors but you can't compare something out of a logan box to something taken yesterday. Looking at the Landry day before photo which is nice but a CN train with a little fog it would be hard to say that is 3500 views image??

I saw that one too, it wasn't any better IMHO, but I thought this one got the point across enough

With regard to the original shot, I am a bit surprised that RP didn't object to the odd way in which the turbine on the left was cut off. The screeners usually don't like that sort of thing.

With regard to the "Facebook Sluts" (l love that description!), that sort of "me first" approach seems typical of the way people behave these days in the age of so-called "social media." Environments such as Facebook and the like are touted as bringing us all closer, but I think that in many cases, it's just the opposite. People say things on-line that they would never say to a person's face. Kids bully other kids mercilessly. People text each other instead of actually talking to them. Society is actually losing its social skills, not enhancing them. In the case of the RP "Facebook Sluts", these folks have no desire to see how their images stack up against those of others. They couldn't care less about anyone else. I once browsed the RP Profile of perhaps the most well-known of these folks. In the section where most of us show our three favorite shots that others have taken, his selection is.....blank. When I looked at his "Favorites"....they were all his own. I guess I wasn't too surprised at that.

With regard to the original shot, I am a bit surprised that RP didn't object to the odd way in which the turbine on the left was cut off. The screeners usually don't like that sort of thing.

With regard to the "Facebook Sluts" (l love that description!), that sort of "me first" approach seems typical of the way people behave these days in the age of so-called "social media." Environments such as Facebook and the like are touted as bringing us all closer, but I think that in many cases, it's just the opposite. People say things on-line that they would never say to a person's face. Kids bully other kids mercilessly. People text each other instead of actually talking to them. Society is actually losing its social skills, not enhancing them. In the case of the RP "Facebook Sluts", these folks have no desire to see how their images stack up against those of others. They couldn't care less about anyone else. I once browsed the RP Profile of perhaps the most well-known of these folks. In the section where most of us show our three favorite shots that others have taken, his selection is.....blank. When I looked at his "Favorites"....they were all his own. I guess I wasn't too surprised at that.

I've never in my life posted a train photo on Facebook, simply because I do not want to be inundated with the inevitable "wtf" types of questions about the hobby...

I'm really glad some people do though. I enjoy looking at Ron Flannery's facebook feed.

The key is to mix in 'pretty' train photos with the other stuff. And don't go all foamer in the description.

Or get new friends on facebook.

Loyd L.

Or join some of the great railroad groups on facebook. I post photos on fb for a number of reasons such as freedom, large local community and even the image resolution. I personally know just one other on RP and I'd be lucky if 10 of my countrymen saw my photos on RP - that is unless I post a link to one of them on fb like I did on last photo posted here. I would like to promote RP itself but that doesn't go down well on fb. A negative for fb is there's no photo database.

The number of mediocre or even bad shots on RP is really endless. And some decent shots get nit picked to death. And some really good stuff shows up. C'est la vie. Why do people act surprised. Sceening is inherently judgmental, different things interest different people, and there are multiple screeners all with somewhat different standards. Heck, I be surprised if it were more consistent. The real downside is the good photogs who get discouraged but that is probably the nature of the beast. Net net I think RP does a reasonably good job for a low budget operation.

My feeling is people know what brings on a rejection and have experiences with rejections so they compensate in anticipation. Actually we don't know if this was his first try or is "corrected" version. In this case the operation was a success but the patient died.